Ramoke Lasisi, a former cleaner at a Guarantee Trust Bank, has just bagged a Bachelor of Science degree (first-class honours) in Mathematics after graduating on a 4.94/5.00 CGPA from the University of Ilorin.
The Uniilorin graduate shares her success story on her LinkedIn page on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Lasisi recalls her plight in securing admission into the university.
She recalls that her mother couldn’t bear her educational expenses, so she offered to support her by engaging in side-hustles at school. Ramoke’s financial challenges are one of many Nigerian students’ stories.
“I still remember the worry on my mother’s face when I told her I wanted to further my education. She has always been my greatest support, but I knew our finances couldn’t carry the cost of university. So, I promised her I would support myself by offering dry-cleaning and cleaning services when I gained admission,” she recounted.
To achieve her dream, the exceptional student worked as a sales representative and later applied for a cleaning job at a GT Bank. Lasisi also worked as a nursery school teacher before securing admission on her second attempt.
“After secondary school, I worked as a sales rep while preparing for JAMB, but my first attempt didn’t get me admission. Later, I taught as a nursery school teacher, and then I took a job as a cleaner at GTBank.”
While in university, she co-founded and facilitated several initiatives, including The Emerging Minds Foundation and a Python for Data Analysis workshop. Looking back, Ramoke appreciated every stage of her life and concurred that a poor background doesn’t affect one’s success if one is determined to make good out of it.
Her words: “Looking back, every stage — from sales rep, teacher, and cleaner to first-class graduate and data science educator shaped me into who I am today.
“My journey is a reminder that where you start doesn’t determine where you’ll finish. With resilience, faith, and hard work, things can get better.”
“I’m open to postgraduate opportunities, data science roles, research collaborations, and impactful projects where I can apply my skills and grow further,” she revealed.
